Last August, ESPN halted its regularly scheduled programming to bring unique sporting events from around the world to its viewers when it launched ESPN8 or ‘The Ocho’ and it was amazing! I am happy to announce “The Ocho” will be back again this year on August 8 -with KFC as its sponsor – and feature 24 hours of fun, off-beat programming beginning and ending with a showing of the inspiration behind it all, “Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story.” All ESPN8: The Ocho programming will be on EPPN2 and made available On Demand on the ESPN App with the exception of the movie “Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story.” In addition, supporting content will be available across ESPN platforms including ESPN.com, ESPN the Magazine and the ESPN flagship and ESPN Front Row Social handles.
Here is what viewers of “The Ocho” can expect to see:
- “Ouchtown. Population: you, bro.”
- SkyZone Ultimate Dodgeball Championship: 32 teams compete for the ultimate title in trampoline dodgeball.
- 2018 Dodgeball World Cup: The best dodgeball teams from around the world will compete for the title at Madison Square Garden Saturday, August 4.
- US Open Ultimate Championships: A self-officiating competition with two teams on a field similar to a football field, but the object used is a disc. The objective of the game is to catch a pass in the opponent’s end zone.
- US Open Ultimate Championships: A self-officiating competition with two teams on a field similar to a football field, but the object used is a disc. The objective of the game is to catch a pass in the opponent’s end zone.
- Spikeball East Tour Series: Spikeball is essentially volleyball around a small trampoline instead of a net. Two teams of two players pound a small ball off the trampoline and must avoid letting the ball hit the ground.
- Cornhole: ACL Pro Invitational: The ACL Pro Invitational brings together the best cornhole players from around the United States to compete for over $70,000 in cash prizes.
- Major League Eating: The 2006 Johnsonville Brat-Eating World Championship and the 2006 Krystal World Hamburger Eating Championship highlight the world’s best iron stomachs.
- World Championship of Ping Pong: In its eighth year, the World Championship of Ping Pong has played an important role in the resurgence of the sport and elevating it to the international television stage.
- Fenway Hurling Classic: A series of hurling matches played at Fenway Park in Boston.
- Amazing Games:
- Spain: Running of the Bulls, Human Castle, and Grass Cutting.
- Korea: War of the Wagons, Korean Wrestling and Blitz Chess.
- England: Lawn Mower Racing, Cumberland Wrestling, and Jousting.
- Premier League Darts: The tournament, launched in 2005, features 10 of the best players from the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) circuit competing in a round-robin format.
- Kabaddi: A contact team sport that originated in India involving two teams and a unique rule. The goal is for each team’s “raider” to tag as many of the opposing team’s players as possible and return to his/her home half all while taking just a single breath.
- The Saber Legion 2018: Awakening: The world’s biggest custom dueling organization founded in 2015 highlighting the best in high-level lightsaber combat.
- World SUMO Challenge: 24 World Class International SUMO wrestlers compete at Madison Square Garden.
- Women’s Flat Track Derby: Women’s Flat Track Roller Derby is a fast-paced contact team sport spotlighting speed, strategy, and athleticism. The flat track style of roller derby rolled onto the scene in 2001and has grown to more than 400 leagues worldwide per the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA).
- Chess Boxing: Yes, you read that correctly. Chessboxing is a hybrid sport started in 2003 that is designed to test both the body and the mind with three-minute rounds of each sport for a total of 11 rounds.
- Moxie Games: Hosted by Penn Jillette (of Penn & Teller) The Moxie Games are the Olympics of viral sports including Dodge Juggle (a hybrid of Dodge Ball & Juggling), Martial Arts Volleyball, Table Tennis using only the head, Pool Trick Shots, Rock Paper Scissors, and more. Held in Las Vegas, Nevada at SkillCon.
During the ESPN8 takeover, the following ESPN platforms will also feature “The Ocho” content:
- ESPN The Magazine: The magazine’s college football preview issue will introduce readers to the most crucial corners of The Ocho universe in a two-page spread highlighting sports such as saber combat, chess boxing, cornhole, kabaddi, spikeball, hurling, and dodgeball. In addition, ESPN the Magazine writer David Fleming traveled to San Francisco to sit down with self-appointed Jedi master Alain Bloch to discuss his quest to win The Saber Legion world title in early August. The piece will be available digitally on Wednesday, Aug. 8
- ESPN.com: Throughout the duration of the takeover, ESPN.com will feature a live blog of the day chronicling the must-see highlights, results and social reactions. In addition, an illustrated guide to The Ocho will be available as well as a Q&A with Rawson Marshall Thurber—the director of “Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story.”
- Social: Highlights, feature videos and behind the scenes perspectives of the making of ESPN8: The Ocho will be available via the ESPN flagship and ESPN Front Row social handles. Rumor has it that Cotton McKnight may even show his face.
ESPN8: The Ocho presented by KFC Battle of the Buckets – Programming Schedule
“Ladies and Gentleman, prepare to witness the greatest happening in sport…”
Date Time (ET) Programming Network
Tue, Aug 8 Midnight “Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story” ESPN8
2 a.m. SkyZone Ultimate Dodgeball Championship ESPN8
3 a.m. US Open Ultimate Championships ESPN8
4 a.m. Spikeball East Tour Series ESPN8
5 a.m. Cornhole: ACL Pro Invitational ESPN8
6 a.m. 2006 Johnsonville Brat-Eating World Championship ESPN8
6:30 a.m. 2006 Krystal World Hamburger Eating Championship ESPN8
7 a.m. World Championship of Ping Pong ESPN8
8 a.m. Fenway Hurling Classic ESPN8
9 a.m. Amazing Games: Spain ESPN8
9:30 a.m. Amazing Games: Korea ESPN8
10 a.m. Premier League Darts ESPN8
11 a.m. E:60 on ESPN8 ESPN8
Noon SportsCenter on ESPN8 ESPN8
12:30 p.m. Amazing Games: England ESPN8
1 p.m. Kabaddi ESPN8
2 p.m. The Saber Legion 2018: Awakening ESPN8
3 p.m. World Sumo Challenge ESPN8
4 p.m. Women’s Flat Track Derby ESPN8
5 p.m. Best of Chess Boxing ESPN8
6 p.m. Moxie Games ESPN8
8 p.m. 2018 Dodgeball World Cup ESPN8
10 p.m. Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story ESPN8
Will you be tuning into “The Ocho” this year? Let us know in the comments below!
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Source/Image Credit: ESPN
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